By any measure, 2012 was a breakout year for Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens. But don't let her four event wins leave the impression that she is an overnight sensation.

Enders-Stevens, 29, a Houston native who now calls New Orleans home, earned her first event victory at Chicago last year and then followed it up with three more wins on the way to a career-best fourth-place finish in Pro Stock points. And she comes into this weekend's O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway third in points after having won at Phoenix. She also had made it to three final rounds.

But for Enders-Stevens, the driver of the GK Racing Camaro, the journey to becoming a true contender for the championship has been anything but smooth. Her rookie season in 2005 was moderately successful as she became the first female driver to reach a Pro Stock final round and recorded eight round wins. The 2006 season showed more promise, but lean times were around the corner.

"We had pretty good seasons in 2005 and '06, but '06 got cut short by a lack of funding," Enders-Stevens said. "Then I spent time looking for a sponsor, which kept me out of the seat for a little bit.

"Gaston Kirby with (Houston-based) Za Za Energy came onboard with us near the end of 2010, then we had the opportunity to team up with Cagnazzi Racing again. It's great to get back in a competitive car."

Enders-Stevens, who is fifth after the first two rounds of qualifying Friday, has gone from being a driver hoping to make the field to a driver competing for a championship. In addition to her victory at Phoenix, she has lost in the final round twice this season to defending Pro Stock champion Allen Johnson and finished second to Mike Edwards at Charlotte last week.

"It's awesome to go from being a car hoping to make it on Sunday to knowing when we pull onto the property that we have just as good a chance as anybody if not better, to win that race," she said. "It's certainly a lot more pressure to be in a competitive car, but I like that pressure."

One person who has noticed Enders-Stevens' progression is drag racing legend Shirley Muldowney. The three-time Top Fuel champion, who in 1976 became the first woman to win an NHRA pro event, believes Enders-Stevens is destined for stardom.

"Erica is just spectacular; she's really good in the car," Muldowney, 72, said. "She had to claw her way to where she is today, and I'm happy to see that. Those Pro Stock cars are tough to drive, but she's got the goods, plus she paid attention to the business side and did it the right way."

Enders-Stevens, who won at Houston in 2004 while driving in the Super Gas class, enjoys racing in her hometown even if it does come with some complications.

"For every driver, racing in their home town, the biggest pressure is the tickets," she said. "Everybody assumes we get free tickets, but we have to pay for them. I get a million calls and emails this week, but it's great to have friends and family who want to come out and support me."